sometimes with humor. >> i think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the word don't come out of your mouth the right way. >> but i always say what i mean. >> reporter: with the polls tightening, the president needs to fire up his democratic base, while mitt romney needs to try to convert 2008 obama voters. and last night here in kentucky, rob and paula, both of them got a lot of help from their running mates. >> and, karen, of course last night was merely the appetizer for the big entree come tuesday night. how does this set up the presidential debate a few days from now? >> reporter: well, the obama campaign thinks they ss they got a win last night. they think it is 1-1. if they concede mitt romney did turn in a stronger debate performance last week. next week's debate, in new york at hofstra university, is a